Endocrine Abstracts

We have previously shown that Tfm mice which have a non-functional androgen receptor (AR) and low endogenous levels of testosterone exhibit increased fatty streak formation within the aortic root. The aim of the present study was to administer varying degrees of testosterone to these animals in comparison to littermate controls to determine the role of the AR in the anti-atherogenic action of testosterone.Eight-week-old Tfm mice (n=24) and XY litt...

Recent studies using the viral transneuronal tracing technique allowed to reveal brain neurons synaptically connected with the adrenal gland, via specific infections within functionally related chains of neurons. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cerebral neurons involved in the innervation of the adrenal gland exhibit asymmetry or not. In order to label simultaneously the supraspinal neurons connected with the right- and left-sided adrenal glands, dual-v...

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type2A (MEN 2A) is a syndrome of familial cancers characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. RET protooncogene is the responsible gene for MEN 2A; in more than 96% of MEN 2A families mutations in RET exon 10 or exon 11 are identified. Herein we report a MEN 2A case affected by a mutation (Gly533Cys) in exon 8. A 66-yr-old male patient was referred to our Department due ...

The physiological state of pregnancy is characterised by the tolerance of the maternal immune system towards the paternal alloantigens expressed by the foetus. Recently, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) were described to play an essential role for the generation and maintenance of the tolerance state. Several research groups showed that normal pregnancy in humans and mice is associated with an augmentation in the number of Treg in different organs wher...

We report two cases of MIBG avid secretory phaeochromocytoma in 2 middle-aged ladies. Adrenalectomy, after standard preparation, was performed successfully and histology confirmed complete excision of a phaeochromocytoma in both cases; however, there was capsular infiltration and metastasis to a neighboring lymph node in the first case. In this case, surveillance CT scans 3 and 6 months later showed left adrenal bed recurrence and rapidly growing lesions in the right lobe of t...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial multisystem autoimmune disorder. Although the survival of SLE patients has been improved with the administration of immunomodulatory therapy, patients seem to suffer from complications of the disease such as atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein Lp(a) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.The aim was to evaluate lipoprotein Lp(a) and its relationship with disease activity in patients w...

Epidemiological studies show increased mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One of the causes of death in RA patients is cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein Lp(a) appears to be an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum lipid and lipoprotein Lp(a) levels in patients with RA.Patients with RA, n=50, aged 24–65 years and healthy controls, n=50 were...

Background: Millions of people worldwide take an intentional nap or siesta after lunch, but data describing potential health effects of naps are very limited. We report on associations between napping and metabolic syndrome risk in a large older Chinese group.Methods: Data from 16 480 older participants (≥50 years) from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study were analysed. Sociodemographic parameters, including frequency of lunch-time napping were coll...

Introduction: Significant hyponatremia may evolve in hypothyroidism, when however, elevated ADH levels have not been consistently demonstrated. On the other hand, it was shown that thyroid hormone substitution suppresses ADH, and its surrogate marker copeptin secretion. The aim of our present study was to investigate the possible humoral changes in a special model of resolution of short term severe hypothyroidism in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients.<p class="ab...

17α-Hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase (P45017α) is a key regulator enzyme of the steroid hormone biosynthesis in both the adrenals and the testes. Inhibition of this enzyme can block androgen synthesis in an early step, and may thereby be useful in the treatment of prostatic carcinoma, which is androgen-dependent in the majority of cases. Abiraterone and its analogues have been found strong inhibitors of P45017α suggesting that steroid de...